01/02/2021
Research showing that a large section of the Australian community knows very little about livestock exports highlights the importance of participants in the industry being willing to have conversations with people interested in finding out more.
It is positive, then, that a survey shows most people in the supply chain – including livestock producers, service providers such as shearers and truck drivers, shipboard veterinarians and stock handlers, and exporters’ staff – are proud of their role in the industry and happy to speak up.
Of the 161 participants, 72% were confident about talking about their role in the livestock export industry with new people they meet, while 91% were confident talking about it with family and friends.
Asked about the industry itself, 63% believed it listens to and respects community options, while 61% believed it is prepared to change its practices in response to community concerns. Not surprisingly, this is higher than the general Australian community, at 34% and 36% respectively on those questions.
While it was a relatively small sample, the survey provides a valid snapshot of how the industry is viewed by those directly involved in it, and by supply chain participants, as an accompaniment to a wider Australian community sentiment project being carried out by LiveCorp. The aim is to repeat the survey every 3-6 months and encourage more people in the wider industry to get involved.
LiveCorp is keen to understand the conversations already happening, and those which participants in the supply chain are less willing to have with people outside it, to help improve communication about the industry’s changing practices and improving performance.
Part of that effort is knowing what issues are being brought up in conversations where people want more details and/or reassurance – whether they are inside or apart from the industry – to help ensure there’s concise, easy to read and factual information available for those wanting to know more.
Anyone with ideas on resources that would help them have those conversations, or topics to cover in ‘frequently asked questions’ on our website, is encouraged to email them to livecorp@livecorp.com.au. You can also sign up to do the next survey.
A summary of the industry survey results is available in infographic form. The findings of the wider community sentiment survey can be found in the report Live export and the Australian community or in infographic form.